Two prominent members of the British-Asian community visit Israel/West Bank as part of a delegation organised by Conservative Friends of Israel….reports Asian Lite News
Community Activist and Lawyer Pranav Bhanot and Stanmore Councillor Ameet Jogia were among the delegates who were selected to participate in a diplomatic relations fact-finding tour of Israel and the West Bank.
The tour was organised by James Gurd of the Conservative Friends of Israel and Eleanor Vesey-Thompson of Conservative Future and provided an opportunity for delegates to understand the Israel-Palestine conflict ‘on the ground’ by talking to Israeli and Palestinian politicians and activists. Kudos to Israeli Embassy in London – For their support and assistance’.
The highlights of the trip included visiting developers of Rawabi (the first planned Palestinian city) and discussing India-Israel relations with Israeli Parliamentarians in light of a potential visit by key members of the Indian Government including Prime Minister Narendra Modi later this year. There were numerous formal dinners and lunches organised with Israeli and Palestinian political activists as well as with representatives of the British Embassy in Tel Aviv.
Cllr Ameet Jogia said: “It was an honour to be part of this historic delegation to Israel. Our visit gave us an invaluable insight into the issues in the Middle East. We met representatives from Israel and the West Bank, providing us with the opportunity to make up our own mind about various issues including, BDS, media coverage and future solutions for the region.”
Pranav Bhanot said: “It was encouraging to see Muslims and Jews living alongside each other and enjoying a thriving social life in Central Tel Aviv. It was clear how committed many of the Israeli and Palestinian residents were in finding a peaceful and harmonious solution to the century long conflict. It was particularly interesting to see how enthused Israeli politicians were to strengthen bonds with both the United Kingdom and India.”
